Below is our Press Release announcing the winners of Leeds Cycling Awards for 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 29th November 2023
Leeds Cycling Campaign has revealed the winners of the much-anticipated Cycling Awards for 2023.
The awards highlight and celebrate projects or actions that are making a significant contribution to promoting cycling in Leeds. They help to foster an environment in which more people will be encouraged to take up cycling and highlight the great work that is going on. They also draw attention to those organisations and individuals who need to improve their performance if we are to get more people cycling, with all the benefits we know this would bring.
The awards are divided into five categories.
SPACE FOR CYCLING
This category is for the transport infrastructure project of the year that has had the most significant impact on promoting cycling and a cycle-friendly environment in Leeds.
Winner: The East Leeds Orbital Route (ELOR)
This route provides 14 km of dedicated cycleways, pedestrian and equestrian pathways as well as specially designed access points to improve connectivity to surrounding areas. Particularly welcome are the safer access points across the A64 towards Selby and East Yorkshire.
The scheme also includes a Country Park, outdoor gyms, ponds and improved wildlife corridors and habitats.
Adrian Hodgson Traffic Manager | Network Management said: “This is fantastic news, and the service is delighted to have won the award.”
BEST CYCLING PROMOTION
This category is for the education or encouragement project that has had the most significant impact on promoting cycling and a cycle-friendly environment in the past year.
Winner: Cycle North Adult Cycle Training Programme
Cycle North deliver free adult cycle training in Leeds and Wakefield and coordinate the scheme across West Yorkshire. The scheme is promoted and funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) as part of their ongoing drive to promote active travel.
In the last 12 months they have worked with 1501 new cyclists on their skills, and their partners Leeds Bike Mill taught 231 people in their bike maintenance sessions.
The beginner’s sessions across the city are very popular and continue to run over the winter.
Graham Creaton General Manager said: ‘We are thrilled to be recognised, thank you.”
CYCLE-FRIENDLY COMMITMENT BY BUSINESS
This category is for a business that has made significant efforts in encouraging and supporting cycling by its staff, customers and clients during the past year.
Winner: Last Mile cargo bike carriers
Last Mile Leeds offers collection and delivery to business premises in Leeds using cargo bikes as the delivery method of choice for city centre businesses.
The service is speedy, efficient, results in zero emissions and reduces city centre congestion.
CYCLING CAMPAIGNER OR ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
This category is designed to recognise the contribution made by an individual to the promotion of cycling in Leeds.
Winner: Les Webb
Les Webb has been a tireless cycling campaigner for many years in both Leeds and the wider region.
Les is a Trustee of the Friends of the Trans-Pennine Trail, working to improve this unique 370mile coast to coast cycling, walking and horse-riding network.
He is a long-standing Sustrans volunteer and helped to establish the Sustrans office in the city in 2005. At Sustrans he promoted the Lottery-funded “Connect 2” projects in Yorkshire, had a leading role in establishing the Leeds Universities “Velocampus” bike hire scheme and has since 2009 been a volunteer organiser of the Cycle- Rail Forum working with Northern Rail and other train operators to create better facilities on trains and at stations for cycle-rail users across the North.
He has been an active member of the Sustrans Leeds Volunteer group since 2003, helping to maintain and upgrade the National Cycle Network and local cycle routes and was Group Co-ordinator between 2014-17.
He has been a key member of the Leeds Cycling Campaign team working to improve access for all at Skelton Grange Road Bridge in South Leeds.
ROTTEN TOMATO AWARD
This award is for the transport infrastructure, organisation or media outlet that has had the greatest impact in the last year in deterring people from cycling in Leeds.
The award has two categories this year given the stiff competition: the Downright Dangerous and the Plain Silly.
The Downright Dangerous
Winner: Claypit Lane / Sheepscar Street South
While cycling infrastructure on this busy commuting route into the city centre has greatly improved in the last few years, this junction remains highly dangerous for both cyclists and pedestrians. We are aware of four serious incidents involving injury to cyclists at the junction and two further collisions close by.
Improved signage for motorists along the route has been promised but has not been installed to date.
Leeds Cycling Campaign put forward proposals to realign the junction and reduce it to one lane in June 2023 but has received no feedback on these ideas.
The Plain Silly
Winner: The Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post
These periodicals have consistently failed to accurately represent cyclists’ views in their reporting, trivialised cyclists’ concerns, failed to highlight the benefits of cycling and given undue emphasis to the motorist’s viewpoint.
The members of Leeds Cycling Campaign determined the winners of each category based on their experience of cycling in the city over the past year. Each of the winners will be presented with a framed certificate marking their achievement.
“We are delighted with the response to our second Leeds Cycling Awards and the quality of nominations received. We wish to congratulate both our winners and everyone who was nominated for an award.
“We continue to work across all communities in the city to improve life for cyclists, whether commuters, leisure cyclists or people wanting to improve their health and well-being.
“Much still needs to be done to make cycling the natural choice for getting around the city but this year’s award winners show just how much great work is underway to make this a reality.”
ENDS
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
contact@leedscyclingcampaign.co.uk
LEEDS CYCLING CAMPAIGN
Leeds Cycling Campaign exists to promote cycling in the Leeds area and make Leeds a better place to cycle. We provide regular input on planned road schemes, cycle facilities and cycling strategy with Leeds City Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and respond to Government consultations which impact on cyclists.
We organise regular rides for all experience levels and hold meetings and events for members.
We work closely with other organisations both local and national to improve facilities for cyclists.
Website: http://www.leedscyclingcampaign.co.uk
PHOTOGRAPHS
ELOR – Space for Cycling
Cycle North Adult Cycle Training Programme - Best Cycling Promotion
Last Mile cargo bike carriers - Cycle-friendly commitment by business
Les Webb – Cycling campaigner or advocate of the year
Rotten tomato award- The Downright Dangerous- Claypit Lane / Sheepscar Street South Junction (acknowledgement Google Earth)
Rotten tomato award - The Plain Silly - The Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post
A downloadable copy of our Press Release can be found below.
